Research Catalog

Title

Teo Macero collection, 1949-1992, 1958-1975 (bulk)

Author

Macero, Teo, 1925-2008

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Bennett, Tony, 1926-2023
• Brubeck, Dave
• Byrd, Charlie, 1925-1999
• Davis, Miles
• Kostelanetz, Andre, 1901-1980
• Mingus, Charles, 1922-1979
• Monk, Thelonious
• Townsend, Irving
• Columbia Records, Inc

Description

57.5 linear ft. (76 boxes)

Summary

The Teo Macero collection consists chiefly of project files, photographs, and other materials that document the recording production work of Macero (and occasionally other producers) at Columbia Records from 1958 to 1975 and the activities of the recording artists that he produced. Although most of the records came from Macero's office, some material originated in the office of producer Irving Townsend, in particular the Duke Ellington and some of the Miles Davis material. Scores comprise about 30 linear feet of the collection and consist mostly of classical and commercial arrangements used on Andre Kostelanetz recordings from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s, but also include some of Macero's own compositions dating from his Juilliard days (early 1950s) to the early 1990s. The collection most thoroughly documents the careers of Andre Kostelanetz, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett, Thelonious Monk, and Charlie Byrd. Other artists, including Duke Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, Stan Getz, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman, J.J. Johnson, Ramsey Lewis, Charles Mingus and Jimmy Rushing receive less, but still significant coverage. Many other musicians have more limited documentation.

Subject

• Macero, Teo, 1925-2008
• Bennett, Tony, 1926-2023
• Brubeck, Dave
• Byrd, Charlie, 1925-1999
• Davis, Miles
• Kostelanetz, Andre, 1901-1980
• Mingus, Charles, 1922-1979
• Monk, Thelonious
• Columbia Records, Inc
• Composers > United States > 20th century
• Saxophonists > United States
• Sound recording executives and producers > United States

Genre/Form

• Clippings.
• Contracts.
• Correspondence.
• Photographs.
• Scores.

Note

• Note: Box 13-17 are stored at The Library for the Performing Arts.

Additional Formats (note)

• Available in microfilm as part of Ser. I Teo Macero collection;

Reproduction (note)

• Microfilm.

Source (note)

• Macero, Teo

Biography (note)

• Teo Macero, a composer, saxophonist, and music producer worked for Columbia Records from 1959 to 1975, before going on to found his own company, M. Productions. Born Attilio Joseph Macero in Glen Falls, New York on October 30, 1925, Teo, who had been an accomplished composer and saxophonist from an early age, entered the Juilliard School in 1948. Macero studied composition there with Henry Brant, and graduated with a BS and an MS in 1953. While at Juilliard, he also won the BMI Student Composer's Award. Macero co-founded the Jazz Composers' Workshop with Charles Mingus the same year and performed and recorded with Mingus through 1956. He also worked with the vibraphonist Teddy Charles and recorded three of his own albums in the mid-1950s. At the same time, Macero was active as a composer, writing in an atonal style, as well as in the "third stream" concept pioneered by Mingus and Gunther Schuller. Throughout his career, his compositions have included works for film, television, ballets, and orchestras. Macero won two Guggenheim fellowships (in 1953 and 1954), as well as an NEA grant in 1974.
• In 1956, Columbia Records producer George Avakian hired Macero as a tape editor. Following the departure of Avakian from the label in 1958, and the transfer of producer Irving Townsend to the West Coast in 1959, Macero became the label's main producer of jazz and commercial music. His most important clients at Columbia were Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus (Macero signed the latter two to the label). He is perhaps most famous for his long-term working relationship with Davis, which stretched from 1959 to 1983. Macero also produced about a dozen other important jazz artists during his Columbia tenure, along with the New York Philharmonic conductor, Andre Kostelanetz. In addition, he oversaw many special projects for the label, including soundtracks for several Broadway musicals. Macero left Columbia in 1975 to form his own company, M. Productions, and established the Teorecords label to produce his own, as well as, the music of other artists.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Finding aid available in repository and on internet.

Processing Action (note)

• Microfiled;

Call Number

JPB 00-8

OCLC

NYPT04-A29

Author

Macero, Teo, 1925-2008.

Title

Teo Macero collection, 1949-1992, 1958-1975 (bulk)

Additional Formats

Clippings and promotional material, 1970-1971; Bitches Brew CS 9961; correspondence, 1969-1972 and undated; datasheets, 1969-1971 (box 13 : folders 5 to 10) Available in microfilm as part of Ser. I Teo Macero collection; service copy classmark: *ZB-4355.

Reproduction

Box 13 (folders 5 to 10). Microfilm. New York : New York Public Library, 2009. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. (MN *ZZ-41223)

Indexes

Finding aid available in repository and on internet.

Biography

Teo Macero, a composer, saxophonist, and music producer worked for Columbia Records from 1959 to 1975, before going on to found his own company, M. Productions. Born Attilio Joseph Macero in Glen Falls, New York on October 30, 1925, Teo, who had been an accomplished composer and saxophonist from an early age, entered the Juilliard School in 1948. Macero studied composition there with Henry Brant, and graduated with a BS and an MS in 1953. While at Juilliard, he also won the BMI Student Composer's Award. Macero co-founded the Jazz Composers' Workshop with Charles Mingus the same year and performed and recorded with Mingus through 1956. He also worked with the vibraphonist Teddy Charles and recorded three of his own albums in the mid-1950s. At the same time, Macero was active as a composer, writing in an atonal style, as well as in the "third stream" concept pioneered by Mingus and Gunther Schuller. Throughout his career, his compositions have included works for film, television, ballets, and orchestras. Macero won two Guggenheim fellowships (in 1953 and 1954), as well as an NEA grant in 1974.

In 1956, Columbia Records producer George Avakian hired Macero as a tape editor. Following the departure of Avakian from the label in 1958, and the transfer of producer Irving Townsend to the West Coast in 1959, Macero became the label's main producer of jazz and commercial music. His most important clients at Columbia were Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus (Macero signed the latter two to the label). He is perhaps most famous for his long-term working relationship with Davis, which stretched from 1959 to 1983. Macero also produced about a dozen other important jazz artists during his Columbia tenure, along with the New York Philharmonic conductor, Andre Kostelanetz. In addition, he oversaw many special projects for the label, including soundtracks for several Broadway musicals. Macero left Columbia in 1975 to form his own company, M. Productions, and established the Teorecords label to produce his own, as well as, the music of other artists.

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Finding Aid

Occupation

Composers.

Saxophonists.

Sound recording executives and producers.

Added Author

Bennett, Tony, 1926-2023.

Brubeck, Dave.

Byrd, Charlie, 1925-1999.

Davis, Miles.

Kostelanetz, Andre, 1901-1980.

Mingus, Charles, 1922-1979.

Monk, Thelonious.

Townsend, Irving.

Columbia Records, Inc.

Research Call Number

JPB 00-8

*ZB-4355 [Microfilm]